Apologies Jane, yes it’s a CEAM card.
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Grauniad article on the potential withdrawal of the S1 scheme - as ever with things Brexit, it is the uncertainty which is the cause of much of the anxiety that people are experiencing because of this.
From the article @anon88169868 posted:
"After leaving the UK in 2007 when the husband, now 72, retired, the wife, now 63, was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer that has since spread to her spine.
“The treatment has been brilliant,” she said. “But my oncologist has asked who will be paying for it after Brexit. The pharmacist has asked the same about my medication"
Somehow, this doesn’t seem to stack up for me.
They presumably have not been “living under the radar” and thus their health care will continue as before S1 or not. The lady concerned will be under the auspices of an ALD which has, AFAIK no reliance on the S1 so I am confused. Besides which, as an ALD patient myself, I present my CV and the whole process is transparent. It is extremely unlikely that the oncologist or pharmacist would have any sort of professional view on this which they would outline to the patient!
Maybe this bit added on at the end explains a bit more in her case at least?
“My husband’s S1 – and mine, eventually, when I reached retirement age – was one of the reasons we felt able to move here. Now we don’t know what the arrangements will be, what it will cost, how we’ll be able to pay … No one can tell me."
I can’t speak for the Italians or Spain but I do believe France is made of better stuff.
Can’t speak for the UK either about how they will treat EU citizens but my best guess will be the “hostile environment” all over again 
Like you Graham l am a ALD patient and neither my MT or Pharmacist have received any instructions on post Brexit care. However my Cardiologue did suggest l check with the hospital prior to my next Scintagraphie Cardiaque which is due in December as he thinks the hospital admin is sometimes not very well informed. Im tempted, no matter what happens on 31/10, to let sleeping dogs lie and see what happens. A bit of the old Sand, head buried syndrome - helps me stop worrying.
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Presumably, whether or not an ALD is funded fully by the state for individuals within the French system for S1 holders then charges are still recovered from the NHS.
The problem is that not knowing, or understanding, what will happen post Brexit people are liable to invent all sorts of half baked ideas and then panic about stuff that is largely in their own heads - but it is real anxiety nonetheless and directly traceable to worries about Brexit.
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Aren’t we confusing things here? Having an ALD is a completely different aspect of health care. It is merely the way France makes it easier for people with chronic or costly conditions. If you have an S1 then the UK foots the bill for your ALD costs along with the rest, and if you don’t then France does as long as you are in the french health service.
And everyone who is here legally has the right to join the health service. If you have a low income then it won’t cost you anything to join, whether or not you have an ALD. The advantage of course of the ALD is that then your bills are covered 100%.
And if your income is above the threshold then the cotisation is not outrageous to my mind for what we get. So I’m totally baffled why people are panicking about having to pay huge private insurance costs?
And earlier on on this thread (I think) someone pointed out that retired people don’t pay cotisations for the health service anyway - so if that is true then this really is a storm in a tea cup.
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IIRC French Pensions are subject to cotisations:
Cotisation sociale généralisée (CSG) 8,30 % ou (6,6 % ou 3,8 % selon le revenu fiscal de référence)
Or did I read that wrong or misunderstand it. Without the S1 is there a risk that CSG will once again become payable by UK pensioners in France?
Again I think there is a huge confusion - CSG is not health cotisations, but entirely different.
We pay CSG on our pensions already anyway, so it’s only some pensions that are exempt. And CSG exemption, as far as I’m aware, is due to tax treaties and nothing whatsoever to do with whether or not you have an S1? If that’s not the case then useful to know where it is set out formally (ie not in France connect or other similar that get things wrong sometimes).
Perhaps this is of interest to you Jane. If not, my apologies.
Thanks - if that is correct then useful. I had incorrectly thought that the tax treaty on government pensions being exempt was replicated by one for other pensions, rather than it being an EU regulation. So I amend my second point!
But the first point that health cotisations and social charges are two different things that are being confused still holds.
Hi, I’m new to the group. I have a house in france and have always been planning to move permanently but am unable to do so until July. I am a fluent French speaker but find myself completely bogged down by everything that i need to do. So today I’ve been focusing on healthcare. I have a chronic condition for which I need at least 5 prescriptions a month.
I will have an income from UK, but will also need to work too (I needed another 3 years to work in UK but Brexit has messed that up). I have decided to set up as self employed so will be contributing to the tax system. I will not be earning a huge amount, but hopefully enough. I don’t expect it to be an enormous amount at first as I will have to market for next year. My main query is the amount of cover I would get for prescriptions as I would not be able to afford to move if my inhalors are not paid for. I am prepared to budget for the maximum top up, and understand from what I’ve read here that I can apply for a carte vitelle once I’ve been working for 3 months as long as I am paying into the system. I am only 48 so have a few years to go yet! We have already earnt a small amount of money through air bnb which I will declare at the end of the year and pay tax on .
Hi Sarah and Welcome to the forum…
Having read your brief bio… and about your plans for coming to France… I am not sure that July 2020 make best sense…
The entire world is in uproar with the virus problem… closely followed by the ghastly economic situation… and I reckon it will take quite a long time before things become stable. Unemployment, businesses going bust… it’s happening in France just as much as anywhere else.
With your chronic illness and your need to work… I wonder if you would be best advised to remain in UK… where you already have health cover etc etc… and wait until the situation here in France settles down… and you can plan your move with confidence that all will be well.
Ignore my previous replies on other threads - if you are working you can apply to join the health service straight away and financial rules are different. Anna is better than I am on requirements for self-employed to show it is a proper business, but this will give you an idea of what is required. https://www.remaininfrance.fr/prebrexitcdsworking
But I do know a bit about chronic conditions. Is it one of these 30 conditions that you have? As if so your costs will be covered 100% once you are in the system, have signed up with a MT (GP) and specialist.
http://www.fondshs.fr/Media/Default/Images/Ressources-Allocations/Liste_des_ALD_30.pdf
I got a three month supply of drugs before I left the UK - the max allowed by NHS - and had prepared the way here. So managed to get everything done in time to get more drugs. My new GP was actually brilliant as she prescribed everything I needed on the evidence I gave her. Which was great as it took 7 months to get an appointment with a specialist. Having fluent French makes a big difference. And my experience of the French Health Service is that it is great. Slow to get into and stretched in rural areas, but great care.
But as Stella says the health service could be a bit overloaded in the months to come. There is a huge backlog already as many specialists have been redeployed to covid. So depends how stable you are medically.
You also do realise that you may not be allowed to enter France in July? Nothing has been said yet about when intentional travel restrictions will be lifted.